Sunshine Smoothie

I love a flavour blasting smoothie! This Sunshine Smoothie I’m sharing with you is all about flavour, and healthy benefits of course. This blend is jam packed with high nutritional content, which makes it perfect for enjoying in the morning to replenish from sleep, and fuel your day ahead. I used my homemade Vanilla-Cinnamon Cashew Milk in this blend which made this smoothie extra thick, creamy, and delicious!

I like to create my smoothie blends with the intention of nourishing my body with nutrient love, so my ingredients are always well thought out. I’m going to share with you why I choose the ingredients I did for this smoothie recipe. Maybe this information will make you even more inspired to go blend up your Sunshine Smoothie, or maybe it will make you become more aware of what you’re putting into your smoothie and why.

Ingredients Stripped Down:

Banana // Rich in potassium + magnesium which makes it a great fruit option for adding to smoothies, especially in the morning when we need to replenish. Potassium and magnesium are also known as electrolytes which have many important roles + functions in the body (like muscle contraction + regulating our heartbeat), so keeping them in balance throughout the day is crucial for bodily processes.

Pineapple // A tropical fruit that is sweet, making it very flavourful in smoothies. You can always tell when there’s pineapple in a recipe! Pineapple is also known for being nutrient dense. This tropical fruit is packed with Vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and even Thiamine (Vitamin B1), but what I love most is that it contains phytonutrients, which makes it high in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties as well. The nutritional content of pineapple makes it a perfect fruit for adding into healthy blends for extra nutrient boosts + flavour!

Turmeric + Ginger // Give me anti-inflammatories! We are so easily exposed to toxins during the day, so adding anti-inflammatory ingredients into a smoothie is a great way to help keep our liver protected from oxidative stress. Another reason I love adding healing spices (like turmeric + ginger) to my blends is because it helps keep the body more equipped for inflammatory invaders; our liver health is very important! The liver is an organ that’s responsible for a ton of major bodily processes. We need to nourish our liver with lots of love and can do so by adding things like anti-inflammatories and detoxifiers into our diet. Another reason I like adding spices to my blends is to give the smoothie a unique + flavourful twist.

Flaxseed // The high nutritional content of flaxseed makes it easy to understand why it’s great for adding it into smoothies. Flaxseeds are well known for being one of the healthiest foods out there. Today I’ll stick to the fact that it is high in Lignans (polyphenols) that protect our cells by fighting free radicals + inflammation, help balance hormones, support probiotic growth, and promote healthy hair/nails/skin. So basically, they’re kind of a big (healthy) deal!

Plant Protein Powder // I like to add versatile flavours such as vanilla or chocolate protein powder to my smoothies. I find these flavours pair well with most smoothie creations. I’m dairy sensitive, so organic plant based protein is the source I always use. Even if I wasn’t dairy sensitive, I would still use a plant based protein powder. It can be much easier on digestion. You don’t have to be highly active to add protein powder to your day, it’s an important building block, therefore anyone can benefit from it. Adding protein powder into your smoothie not only increases daily protein intake, but it also maintains/builds/repairs muscles, promotes healthy hair + nails, increases protein synthesis, helps manufacture chemicals in the body such as enzymes + hormones, along with many other important functions. Protein powders are also perfect for thickening up your smoothie and adding more flavour. I always opt for a protein powder that is certified organic, plant based, non GMO, high in dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. In other words, one that provides a range of benefits and more healthy bang for your buck!

Collagen // I add collagen to my life daily! It’s made a huge difference in my health, especially my skin, nails, and digestion! If I’m not adding collagen powder to my smoothie, I’ll be adding it into my coffee, tea, or lemon water. Collagen has powerful benefits and is the most abundant protein in the body. It can be found in our skin, digestive tract, bones, joints, tendons, and blood vessels. In addition, collagen helps with cell turnover and gives our skin its elasticity. As we age, our production of collagen naturally decreases, resulting in fine lines and wrinkles from less elasticity. We can also experience other effects, like joint pain. Adding collagen to smoothies is a way to help prevent the degenerative process of collagen as we age.

Cashew Milk // I love this plant based milk because it’s so nutritious! It’s also the perfect milk base for adding thickness and creaminess to your smoothie. I did a blog post a few weeks ago on my Vanilla-Cinnamon Cashew Milk where you can read more in depth about why I love this plant based version of milk + the benefits you can reap from it!

Hemp Hearts // Similarly to flaxseed, hemp hearts contain a high nutritional content. They are well known for being high in omega 3’s and omega 6’s (with a healthy ratio balance of 3:1). Omega 6’s in particular contain GLA, which are known for balancing out hormones. Hemp hearts are also a complete protein containing all 20 amino acids (11 non essential + 9 essential amino acids)! I like to sprinkle them over top of my smoothies due to their high nutritional content + added benefits.

Shredded (Unsweetened) Coconut // This pretty topping is actually quite nutritious! It contains heart healthy fats + a decent amount of fiber that helps add more bulk to your diet, which helps you feel full longer. I’m also a huge fan of tropical fruit and coconut is one of my favourites, next to pineapple! Coconut tends to get a bad rap, but personally I think everything in moderation is key. When we overboard on any nutrient, the benefits will be lost. In controlled amounts, the fats in coconut can help boost good HDL cholesterol.

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One thought on “Sunshine Smoothie”

Hi!
I’ve been following you on Instagram for some time and I’m really glad you have a blog now.
I’ve a question regarding collagen: I’ve read everywhere that it benefits the skin, nails and hair — my question is how? Because collagen is a protein, right? So it would be digested down to aminoacids, which would then be used to make other proteins. So what’s the difference between adding collagen or another protein powder to meals?
Really hoping you can help, I’ve thought about starting to buy collagen, and would love to know more about it.
Thanks!!

The Face Behind the Vibe

Hi, I’m Jenna and welcome to The Nourished Vibe! My mission is to inspire you to find your nourishing vibe in all the areas of your life. It’s important we not only nourish our body with real and nutritious food, but it’s also important we nourish our mind with healthy thoughts, and our physical body with movement. When I’m not busy experimenting in the kitchen, you can find me blogging, exercising, exploring the city, going to school, and spending time with my husband at our home here in Vancouver, BC.

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